Washington—As Congress is set to return to Washington next week, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement calling on President Trump to stop fueling division: 

“During this tumultuous time, I’m working to protect the progress we’ve made and find a way to get things done for Californians during a period of total Republican control of Washington. I’ve been strongly critical of President Trump when I disagree on policy and with his behavior.

“Most recently, I was appalled by his comments in response to Charlottesville and the pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. President Trump said that there were ‘very fine people’ in a crowd chanting ‘Jews will not replace us.’ There’s nothing ‘fine’ about white supremacists, Nazis or the KKK.

“President Trump said on Monday that he stands by his pardon of Sheriff Arpaio. To pardon a sheriff with a decades-long history of racial profiling sends a message to law enforcement nationwide that racial profiling is acceptable. It is not. 

“The duty of the American president is to bring people together, not cater to one segment of a political base; to solve problems, not campaign constantly. While I’m under no illusion that it’s likely to happen and will continue to oppose his policies, I want President Trump to change for the good of the country.”